To mark the end of Carers Week I visited two local organisations where I met with local carers to learn more about their experiences of caring for a loved one.  

I spent time at LOROS to visit their new Day Therapy Unit and Education Unit and I also joined carers at CLASP, the Carers Centre, where I took part in their Carers Fair – joining carers in therapy tasters, pamper treatments and craft activities.  

There are over 6.5 million people in the UK who are caring for a family member or friend and in Leicestershire there are over 105,000 family carers.  

Many people who care for a family member or friend find it really difficult to get the help they need, and organisations like LOROS and the Carers Centre are a real life-line in providing respite care, information, advice and support for carers’ own health and well-being.

But the Government needs to do far more to support unpaid family carers and recognise the huge contribution they make. This includes properly funding respite services, so carers can get a break, and ensuing working carers get the paid time off they need to look after their loved one